When Our Immune When Our Immune System Breaks DownSystem Breaks Down

ImmunopathologyImmunopathology

Our bodies are constantly Our bodies are constantly at war, under assault 24-at war, under assault 24-

hours a day from infection hours a day from infection and toxins.and toxins.

-a network of -a network of chemicals & chemicals & cells that cells that protect the protect the body.body.

That we survive That we survive at all, is due to at all, is due to our immune our immune system, system,

Primary organs of Primary organs of immune system:immune system:

•Thymus glandThymus gland

•Bone marrowBone marrow

Secondary organs of Secondary organs of immune system:immune system:

•Lymph nodesLymph nodes

•SpleenSpleen

•Tonsils & Tonsils & AdenoidsAdenoids

Main Job of the Immune Main Job of the Immune SystemSystem

•Protects body from invasion of organisms

•Protects body from own cells which may develop incorrectly and cause harm to the fine balance of the body's systems

Major cells of immune Major cells of immune system:system:

Leukocytes:

1. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (granulocytes) - active in inflammatory process

2. Monocytes & Macrophages - engulf and eat pathogens 7 foreign substances

3. Lymphocytes - B & T lymphocytes

Crossing the barriersCrossing the barriers

•skin

•mucosal membranes

•trauma

•as result of infection on surface invading microorganisms invading microorganisms can enter body, blood can enter body, blood stream & lymphatic stream & lymphatic system.system.

If physical & chemical If physical & chemical barrier is broken down barrier is broken down by:by:

Inside the body, pathogens can Inside the body, pathogens can find a niche in body tissue to find a niche in body tissue to multiply and form a colony.multiply and form a colony.

Normally our bodies Normally our bodies are fit enough to fight are fit enough to fight an infection with all an infection with all

the parts of our the parts of our immune system.immune system.

Sometimes we need help fighting infection.

•Antibiotics are chemicals Antibiotics are chemicals developed to help us in the developed to help us in the fight infection. fight infection.

•They also reduce risk of They also reduce risk of death if immune system is death if immune system is unsuccessful.unsuccessful.

•Antibiotics reduce risk of Antibiotics reduce risk of tissue damage while tissue damage while immune system fights off immune system fights off infection. infection.

Antibiotics are not essential and we would often win without them.

The argument has been made The argument has been made that antibiotics are over that antibiotics are over

prescribed.prescribed.

For minor For minor infections with low infections with low

risks we should risks we should wait for the body's wait for the body's

own defenses.own defenses.

These usually prevent other These usually prevent other more dangerous bugs from more dangerous bugs from spreading.spreading.

There is a protective effect of There is a protective effect of normal microorganisms which normal microorganisms which live on skin & mucosal live on skin & mucosal membranes.membranes.

•as well as killing off the as well as killing off the harmful bacteria causing the harmful bacteria causing the infection,infection,

•some of the good resident some of the good resident microbes will die, leaving an microbes will die, leaving an opportunity for others to opportunity for others to grow.grow.

•If for example you have a If for example you have a course of antibiotics for an course of antibiotics for an infection…infection…

Pathogens which grow under these conditions are called opportunistic

pathogens.

A good example of an A good example of an opportunistic infection: opportunistic infection: thrushthrush

or or candidacandida

Note white fungal patches under Note white fungal patches under tonguetongue

After using antibiotics, fungi After using antibiotics, fungi get a chance to multiply.get a chance to multiply.

This yeast-like fungus normally This yeast-like fungus normally lives on skin, in gut & vagina lives on skin, in gut & vagina

in small, well-controlled in small, well-controlled numbers.numbers.

HypersensitivHypersensitivity Disordersity Disorders

Contact dermatitisContact dermatitis

http://www-medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/IMMHTML/IMM029.html

Hypersensitivity-contact Hypersensitivity-contact dermatitisdermatitis

http://tray.dermatology.uiowa.edu/ImageBase.html

PhotosensitPhotosensitive ive

dermatitisdermatitishttp://tray.dermatology.uiowa.edu/ImageBase.html

Skin reaction Skin reaction to insect bite.to insect bite.

Brown Recluse Spider

Poison Ivy DermatitisPoison Ivy Dermatitis

http://health.discovery.com/diseasesandcond/encyclopedia/132.html

HivesHives

Allergic WeltsAllergic Welts

http://www.dermatest.de/PB/Publikationen/PBEN/Allergic_skin_reactions/body_allergic_skin_reactions.html

allergic rhinitis nose ruballergic rhinitis nose rub

Allergic RhinitisAllergic Rhinitis

http://www.emedicine.com/PED/topic2560.htm

““allergic shiners” as result allergic shiners” as result of allergic rhinitisof allergic rhinitis

http://www.emedicine.com/PED/topic2560.htm

Nasal PolypNasal Polyp

http://www.ghorayeb.com/NasalPolyps.html

http://www.ghorayeb.com/NasalPolyps.html

AnaphalaxisAnaphalaxis

•Hypersensitivity reaction in which antibody on mast cells quickly reacts with an antigen.

•Mast cells release histamine & other mediators that lead to edema.

Some causes of a Some causes of a hypersensitivity hypersensitivity

reaction:reaction:

acute laryngeal edema due to acute laryngeal edema due to anaphylactic reaction to anaphylactic reaction to

penicillinpenicillin

http://www-medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/IMMHTML/IMM030.html

AutoimmuAutoimmune ne

DisordersDisorders

patient with sclerodermapatient with scleroderma

note taunt skin and scaring at note taunt skin and scaring at corners of mouthcorners of mouth

http://www-medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/IMMHTML/IMM024.html

Sclerodactyly as result of Sclerodactyly as result of sclerodermascleroderma

http://www.dermis.net/doia/diagnose.asp?zugr=d&lang=e&diagnr=710110&topic=t

Lupus Lupus

““butterfly butterfly rash”rash”

http://www-medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/IMMHTML/IMM009.html

Another lupus “butterfly Another lupus “butterfly rash”rash”

Also called “malar rash”Also called “malar rash”

Myasthenia Myasthenia gravisgravis

Three different Three different serial pictures serial pictures demonstrate demonstrate

fatigue of eyelid fatigue of eyelid muscles as muscles as

patient keeps patient keeps looking up.looking up.

http://www.methodisthealth.com/health/nervsystem/Myasgrav.htm

Rheumatoid Rheumatoid arthritisarthritis

http://www-medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/ORGAN.html#1

X-ray rheumatoid X-ray rheumatoid arthritisarthritis

http://www.vh.org/adult/provider/radiology/icmrad/skeletal/Parts/RAHands.html

Jaundice of sclera from Jaundice of sclera from auto auto immune diseaseimmune disease ---- primary biliary primary biliary

cirrhosiscirrhosis

ImmunodeficieImmunodeficiency Disordersncy Disorders

Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Kaposi’s Sarcoma-roof of roof of mouthmouth

http://www.maxillofacialcenter.com/BondBook/softtissue/kaposi.html

Kaposi’s SarcomaKaposi’s Sarcoma

http://pathsrvr.rockford.uic.edu/inet/Immune%20Disorders/Immune%20Disorders%20Station%203.htm

SummarySummary

Immune system consists Immune system consists of:of:

•Thymus glandThymus gland

•Bone marrowBone marrow

•Lymph nodesLymph nodes

•SpleenSpleen

•LiverLiver

•TonsilsTonsils

•lymphocyteslymphocytes

Malfunctioning or Malfunctioning or compromised immune compromised immune systems:systems:•Leave the body with Leave the body with weakened defenses weakened defenses against pathogens and against pathogens and opportunistic microbesopportunistic microbes

Primary disorders of Primary disorders of immune system are immune system are

categorized as:categorized as:1.1.Hypersensitivity Hypersensitivity

disordersdisorders (allergy, (allergy, autoimmune)autoimmune)

2.2.Immune deficiency Immune deficiency disorders disorders (congenital (congenital immunodeficiency, AIDS)immunodeficiency, AIDS)

•Treatment for immune Treatment for immune disorders varies disorders varies

•Some immune disorders Some immune disorders are mild while others are are mild while others are severe and require long-severe and require long-term therapyterm therapy